Gastro-intestinal tubes

• US 4,270,542 A
• Filed: 10/02/1979
• Issued: 06/02/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Peter F. Plumley
• Original Assignee: Peter F. Plumley
• Inventors: Plumley, Peter F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Application Number:
  US06/081,242
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 128/350 R, 128/240, 128/349 R, 128/349 B, 128/348
• US Class Current: 604/43
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0032 characterized by at least one unconventionally shaped lumen, e.g. polygons, ellipsoids, wedges or shapes comprising concave and convex parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers

Abstract

A naso-gastric tube has a large bore through which gas and liquid can be removed from the stomach and oesophagus, and a small bore through which liquid can be introduced to the duodenum. The large bore is closed at one end of the tube whereas the small bore opens at this end. The tube has a region of several apertures through which the large bore opens from the tube; the region is spaced from the end of the tube by a first distance of at least 10 cm, the region extending for a second distance approximately equal to the first distance. In this way, when the open end of the small bore is located in the duodenum, the apertures will be located in the lower oesophagus and the upper part of the stomach.

Claims

1. A gastro-intestinal tube having:

a first bore for enabling fluid to be removed from the stomach and oesophagus of a patient, said first bore extending to, and being closed at, one end of said tube;

a multiplicity of apertures in the wall of said tube through which said first bore opens, said apertures being spaced apart from one another over a region along the length of said tube, the first aperture in said region being spaced from said one end of said tube by a first distance of at least 10 cm and said region extending for a second distance substantially equal to said first distance; and

a second bore for enabling fluid to be supplied to the duodenum of the patient, said second bore extending to, and opening at, the said one end of said tube such that when said tube is located with its said one end in the region of the duodenum some of said apertures are located in a lower part of the oesophagus and others of said apertures are located in an upper part of the stomach.

2. A gastro-intestinal tube according to claim 1, wherein said second bore has a smaller cross-sectional area than said first bore, and wherein said second bore extends through the wall along the length of said tube.

3. A gastro-intestinal tube according to claim 1, wherein said tube has a mass located at said one end so as thereby to increase the weight of said one end.

4. A gastro-intestinal tube according to claim 3, wherein said mass is a metal ball embedded in said tube.

5. A gastro-intestinal tube according to claim 1, wherein said apertures are spaced around the circumference of said tube.

6. A gastro-intestinal tube according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said tube is of plastic material.

7. A gastro-intestinal tube according to claim 6, wherein said tube is of PVC.

8. A gastro-intestinal tube according to any one of claims 1 to 5, including a flexible conduit, said conduit having one end connected with said second bore.

9. A gastro-intestinal tube according to claim 8, including retaining means mounted with said tube, said retaining means defining an aperture within which said conduit can be retained.